New eats at the Linc cater to variety of tastes

New culinary offierings at Lincoln Financial Field include everything from specialty pulled pork sandwiches to edamame hummus to gluten-free hot dogs. (Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles)

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles and Aramark have made headlines the last several years by rolling out all kinds of meat-centric offerings alongside exotic and healthy dishes that seemed a better fit for the Radnor Hunt than Lincoln Financial Field.

Last week the Birds and their long-time food and beverage concessionaire did it again, inviting media members and a limited number of season ticket holders to a menu preview event that featured everything from brisket sandwiches, artisan pizzas and crab fries to breaded eggplant hoagies, meatless hot dogs and edamame hummus.

“When I first got here the choices were minimal,” said Aramark executive chef James Hennessey. “The fans wanted one thing: Meat. They wanted hot dogs and cheesesteaks. Over the past couple years, their tastes have evolved to a whole new level. Everybody is eating differently, healthier, and being smarter about their choices.”

While the Eagles have incorporated an array of salads, wraps and gluten-free and vegan choices into their game day menu, a few aortic-stretching sandwiches were front and center at the preview event.

“In Philadelphia you can’t get too Philly style without some gusto,” Baynes said of the chef Peter McAndrews’ creation. “With our sandwich we really wanted to take kind of the concept of the cheesesteak and really go over the top,” Baynes said.

Paesano’s was given some permanent space alongside newcomers Pizzeria Vetri and Quick & Carmichael’s BBQ in the Eagles’ two club lounges.

After a season of selling a mortadella hot dogs and North Philly sausage cheesesteaks, Vetri, the dexterous chef behind a handful of the city’s most critically acclaimed restaurants, decided to bring a few of his Callowhill Street creations, and two brick ovens, to the Linc.

“He will be offering two different taglios, which (are) Sicilian-style pizzas,” Hennessey said. “One is a sausage and fennel and the other one is margherita.”

Pizzeria Vetra will also be peddling its Rotolo, which GQ Magazine food critic Alan Richman’s tapped as one of his five favorite dishes of 2014. “It’s pizza dough rolled around mortadella (Italian bologna), ricotta, and pistachio pesto, baked crispy and crunchy,” Richman wrote.

Pizzeria Vetri pricing will range from $5.50 to $9 per serving.

Former Eagles Pro Bowl receivers Harold Carmichael and Mike Quick had input on the sauces, bread and toppings used on the new sandwiches that share their name.

The Quick is composed of black cherry slow-cooked pulled pork topped with homemade cole slaw on a potato roll. The Carmichael is loaded with pulled chicken in a maple sugar sauce with the same topping and roll.

The sandwiches are priced at $12 and a combination of the two — the Quick & Carmichael — will set indecisive carnivores back an additional $4.

On the beer front, the Eagles will be pouring Yards Philly Pale Ale, Lagunitas IPA and Omission Gluten Free Ale for the same price ($8.50) as Budweiser, Miller Lite and the like.

Other brands, like Brooklyn East India Pale Ale ($9.50) and Sly Fox 360 ($10), will cost a bit more.

For the first time, Dunkin Donuts coffee and Rita’s Water Ice will be available at the stadium, joining returning vendors like Chickie’s & Pete’s, Tony Luke’s, Seasons Pizza and Bassett’s Original Burgers & Fresh Cut Fries.

The Eagles will continue their tradition of partnering with some of the city’s best food trucks.

Prime Stache, the Old City establishment owned by Eagles tight end Brent Celek, will have its mobile meatery stationed in Head House Plaza.

A former UPS truck, the StacheMobile made its debut in the middle of the 2013 season. Funkhauser said Celek is not a passive owner. “He has input in everything,” he said. “He’s the big man (and) this is definitely his baby.”

While the majority of their game-day food and drink is consumed in the parking lots between 9 a.m. and noon, fans Chris and Monica Fickenscher of Aldan were happy to join the Eagles’ upscale feeding frenzy.

“It’s very good,” Chris said after biting into the Paesano, making sure to keep his mouth well in front of his white shirt, lest it yolked.

A longtime season ticket holder and member of the Eagles fan advisory board, Chris said his in-game meal typically consists of a pretzel and two beers. He said it would likely take more alcohol to spring for $14 sandwich.

“If it was in the fourth quarter and I was on my way out — probably,” he said.

“I like that they are trying new things,” Monica said while perusing an assortment of wraps, falafels and salads. “It’s good to have a variety. I say give it a shot. Get rid of the fried and in with the healthier stuff.”